Saturday, November 8, 2025
Several Valley Stream residents have joined forces to oppose a zoning issue they believe impacts the character and affordability of their neighborhood.
The issue centered on a single plot of land, a legal double lot consisting of two separate but contiguous lots, at 111 and 115 Home St., which Rose Mark Holdings LLC purchased with the intention of subdividing the lot into two separate parcels to build two new homes.
Rose Mark sought variances from the village Board of Zoning and Appeals to allow for the subdivision and to construct homes that would be 20 percent larger than those typically permitted.
According to residents, the developer’s representative cited market demand for larger homes as a reason for the requested variances during an Aug. 5 hearing at village hall.
After dozens of residents voiced concerns that evening, as well as a subsequent Aug. 19 hearing, the variances were ultimately denied on Sept. 16.
Residents remain concerned, however, about future developments.
Andrew DePippo, Glenda Hill and Lawrence Mantrone, who live near the proposed development, ex-pressed concerns about the potential effects on the neighborhood. They noted that in recent years, there has been an increase in the construction of oversized homes that do not match the scale or aesthetic of existing houses.
Their main concerns are increased congestion, loss of green space and trees and a shift in the overall nature of the community. They also argued that high prices prevent young families from purchasing homes in the neighborhood.
DePippo, a resident of Valley Stream for 27 years, recalled his two children playing outside his home using a hockey net set on the street. While his son and daughter are now 22 and 20, respectively, he worries children of new families that move to the neighborhood will not have the same opportunity if homes are built too close together and cater to larger families with multiple cars.
“When you have an aesthetic to a neighborhood, it completely changes,” DePippo said. “That’s not what people bought, right? We didn’t buy houses. We bought a neighborhood.”
Before moving to Valley Stream, DePippo lived in Queens for 26 years. He recalled how cluttered the residential streets were with homes, describing residents as living “on top of each other.”
That was one of the main reasons, he explained, why he moved to Valley Stream in the first place to live in a quiet suburb with trees and enough space to raise his family.
He argued that the village’s zoning codes exist to preserve that same character. DePippo and his neighbors expressed a desire for the village’s Board of Trustees and the mayor to take a more active role in upholding zoning regulations and setting a clear tone for development.
Valley Stream Mayor Edwin Fare explained that while he deeply values the character of the village and the concerns of residents, the process for handling variances is governed by state law and is intentionally independent of local politics. The Board of Zoning Appeals is tasked with reviewing requests for variances, he noted, ensuring that both developers and residents have an opportunity to be heard.
Fare emphasized that the village board and the mayor do not have jurisdiction to override the BZA or preemptively deny variances. This structure is designed to ensure fairness and protect the rights of property owners while giving residents a formal avenue to voice concerns.
Even with stricter codes, he continued, developers and residents would still have access to the appeals process through the BZA. This process ensures that proposals are reviewed objectively, Fare explained, and adjustments are often made to address neighborhood concerns, such as landscaping, parking, or building design.
He stressed that residents’ voices are taken seriously in every case, including the Home Street property, where the requested variances were denied. At the same time, Fare explained that violating the law to satisfy residents’ preferences could expose the village to costly lawsuits, which would be funded by taxpayers.
“I love the character of our village, and I love our village, and there’s no question about it,” said Fare, whose family has lived in Valley Stream for three generations. “But I’m obligated to follow the law, and I can’t violate the law.”
Mayor Fare also highlighted that development and growth are ongoing realities in Valley Stream, and the village must balance preserving its character with accommodating changes, such as senior housing, which has become a high priority due to demand.
